Let's start 2009 with a bang!

TODMORDEN News columnist and Burnley Football Club Community coach Martyn Robinson brings you his view of recent goings on at the Turf Moor outfit.

Hello!

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and will enjoy a Happy New Year this evening as we enter into a year that could be a massive one for our very own Clarets!

I try to get a 'Robbo's View' published as often as possible as an exclusive feature to Vital Burnley, but due to recent commitments at the club, time has been taken up. But now I have a little brake I am straight back online bringing you my thoughts.

I was sat watching Sky Sports' Big League Weekend highlights, when a certain line of the pundits script didn't shock me one bit. 'Burnley are the only side in the top 18 not to claim a single point over the festive period' - Yeah, it's a similar tale every year.

But this Christmas was made even more disapointing by the manner of our defeats and who they came against. Boxing day saw Owen Coyle's men fall to a 2-1 defeat as they played host to Simon Davey's Barnsley side, which was quickly followed up by a defeat of the same scoreline to The Tykes' fellow relegation contenders, Doncaster Rovers.

The Barnsley game attracted the highest gate at Turf Moor in the league this season with no fewer than 16,580 inside the Turf to witness a goal from Norwich loanee Jamie Cureton fire the Reds ahead, before a second half own goal from skipper Steven Caldwell cancelled out Chris McCann's earlier equaliser.

With the defeat went a very proud 14-game unbeaten home record that had stayed intact after Ipswich's win on only the second day of the season. The run claimed the Cup exits of Premier League sides Fulham and Arsenal in the Carling Cup though and has set the Clarets up in a very tasty position both in the cup and in the league.

Coyle had said post match that his side would get back on track at the Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday, but it didn't work out that way unfortunately.

'We lost on Boxing Day, but the important thing is that we bounce back quickly and get our positive head on.' said gaffer Owen Coyle speaking to Todmorden News and the gathering media.

'We will take our medicine, which was not particularly enjoyable, given the crowd we had at Turf Moor.'

So uprolled Burnley Football Club, flying the Red Rose of Lancashire in strictly Yorkshire territory, Doncaster.

90 awful minutes, one red card, two conceded goals and one conciliation from Martin Paterson later and the Clarets, heads down slumped from the field of play after dropping yet another three points at the hands of lower ranked sides in the league.

As I said, there was a red card at Doncaster, with Captain Caldwell now unavailable for the F.A. Cup Third Round clash with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road and the First Leg of the Carling Cup Semi-Finals at White Hart Lane against Premier League side Tottenham Hotspurs.

The Burnley line up could be a completely different one from the league come Saturday's clash with QPR, with mumbles around Turf Moor that fringe players may be used as the Clarets head into the transfer window, so that Coyle can judge who is worthy of their place.

One man who may be back into the starting line up after sitting on the substitutes bench for THIRTY consecutive games, is Peruvian International goalkeeper Diego Penny.

After conceding four goals on the opening day of the season on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, Penny has failed to play even a further minute for the Clarets First Team and has been restricted to Reserve appearances, which is better than now third choice Gabor Kiraly, who has failed to even brake into the Reserve team, where he has to settle for a place on the bench!

I'll wrap up now, but before I do, just a quick thank you to Chairman Barry Kilby who enjoys his tenth anniversary of ownership of the club today (31st December).

Have a great New Year guys, see you all soon,

Martyn

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Your Comments (oldest first)

Coaching different sports, mainly football to youngsters from the local area. So we go to primary schools, run football development centres at turf moor aswel as birthday parties and we recently paired up with Prince's Trust to offer football coaching to kids.

Will penny start at QPR do we think? would hurt to give him a shout and a strong performance from him may do him the power of good. Cant be easy moving to a different country and not playing first team football!

Please note the Editorial comments and opinions on this site are the personal views of the Editor and should not be construed in any way to be representative of those of other Clarets organisations of which he belongs e.g. Clarets Trust. This applies to both the front page articles and posts in any of the forums.

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